D.C. Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly In June

District's joblessness remains above the national average

D.C.'s unemployment rate continues to drop while neighboring Virginia and Maryland saw slight increases last month, according to the latest Department of Labor statistics.

The District's unemployment rate is now at its lowest level in more than three years. Federal government estimates for June show the city's rate decreasing from 9.3 percent to 9.1 percent.

In a statement, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray says he is "thrilled that the the city's efforts to create jobs are bearing fruit." In the private sector, 2,000 new jobs were created; 1,800 others were government jobs.

The District's unemployment rate is still nearly one point higher than the national average of 8.2 percent. Virginia and Maryland, which both experienced slight increases in joblessness, are still well below the national average. Virginia's unemployment rate now stands at 5.7 percent, and Maryland is at 6.9 percent unemployment.

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